2008 MINI Cars

If you've ever admired cute European cars in old movies and wished that you had a modern version with up-to-date safety equipment, check out this company. This BMW division channels the old Mini Coopers of the '60s with a modern twist. They're fun to drive and look at and have plenty of room for personalization. They're also not all that mini anymore, especially compared with true minicars, such as the smart fortwo or the Chevrolet Spark. With available roadster, hardtop and coupe models (along with a sporty John Cooper Works version), this company makes a small, economical car for people who don't want to settle for dull practicality. You can customize a MINI Cooper up to 10 million different ways, from the roof color to upholstery and wheel changes to colored, interior mood lighting. Then there's the social aspect: outings, clubs and driving events. Shoppers who look at these cars should also consider the FIAT 500, the Mazda2 and the Ford Focus ST, but nothing out there resembles the cars that MINI puts on the market.